Two-way dust and insect proof lunch box



Aug. 20, 1957 p. w. MUNDORFF 2,803,373

TWO WAY DUST AND INSECT PROOF LUNCH BOX Filed Dec. 15, 1954 ZSheets-Sheet 1 v a 7 7 7 Donald Mflufldor 'ff INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Aug. 20, "1957 D. w. MUNDORFF 2,303,373 H w TWO WAY DUST AND INSECT PROOF LUNCH BOX Filed Dec. 15,. 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Donald 'VK JZun dorFF INVENTQR I BY 1 (I ATTORNEYS TWO-WAY DUST AND INSECT PROOF LUNCH BOX Donald W. Muntlortf, Orangevale, Calif.

Application December 15, 1954, Serial No. 475,371

1 Claim. (Cl. 220-46) This invention relates to lunch box construction, the important object of the invention being to provide a lunch box constructed of metal or plastic material which is so constructed that a seal is provided between the cover and body of the lunch box, to exclude insects or foreign matter from the interior of the lunch box, thereby providing a lunch box that is highly sanitary.

Another object of the invention is to provide a lunch box having means located within the hinged closure thereof for clamping and retaining a conventional Thermos bottle therein, the clamping means operating to removably and more securely hold the Thermos bottle in place within said closure.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a rack pivotally secured within the closure of a lunch box, the rack embodying curved supporting arms curved to conform to the curvature of a Thermos bottle, to yieldably exert pressure on the Thermos bottle held therein, securing the Thermos bottle against movement within the closure or cover of the lunch box.

With the foregoing and other objects in View which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claim, it being understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a lunch box, constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the lunch box showing the closure as swung open.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view through the lunch box and taken transversely of the lunch box.

Figure 4 is a fragmental detail view slightly enlarged,

illustrating one form of the connecting means between the cover and body of the lunch box.

Figure 5 is a fragmental enlarged sectional view illustrating a modified form of sealing means between the cover and body of the lunch box.

Figure 6 is an enlarged sectional view illustrating a still further modified form of lunch box construction and sealing means.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the lunch box comprises a base or body portion 5 and a closure 6 hingedly connected thereto, there being provided fasteners 7 for holding the closure in its closed position.

As better shown by Figure 3 of the drawings, the base or body portion 5 of the lunch box has its rear wall 8 extended inwardly at 9 along its rear edge, and upwardly and downwardly at 10 terminating in a laterally extended portion 11 providing a hinge for the closure 6.

The upper edges of the side walls 12 and front wall 13 are extended inwardly as at 14 and upwardly at 15, the upper extremities of the upwardly extended portions 15 being bent downwardly providing a rounded edge 16.

' United States Patent 0 2,803,373 Patented Aug. 20, 1957 The lower edges of the cover 6 are bent inwardly at 16 where they are curved inwardly at 17 providing a semi-circular retaining flange in which the gasket or sealing ring 18 is mounted, the lower portion of the gasket or sealing ring 18 being exposed for contact with the upper edge of the flange 10 to seal the point of contact between the hinged closure and base or bottom portion of the lunch box.

In the modified form of the invention as shown by Figure 6 of the drawings, the upper edge of the base or body portion 8' is extended inwardly at 9' and upwardly and downwardly at 10'. In this form of the invention, the hinge 11' forms a part of the closure 12', with the lower edge of the closure 12' extended upwardly at 13' and curved inwardly at 14 providing a retaining flange for the gasket or sealing ring 15.

The closure 6, as better shown by Figure 3 of the drawings, is curved to conform to the curvature of the side wall of the usual Thermos bottle, a Thermos bottle being indicated in dotted lines in Figure 3 of the drawings, as located within the closure in contact with the inner surface of the closure.

Supported within the closure 6 is a Thermos bottle supporting rack which includes transverse rods 19 and 24) which are disposed in spaced relation with respect to each other, and welded to the substantially U-shaped rod 21 which is disposed transversely of the closure.

The U-shaped rod 21 is hingedly connected within the closure 6, at a point intermediate the ends of the closure and at the rear of the closure, as shown by Figure 3 of the drawings, the hinge being indicated by the reference character 21'.

The U-shaped rod 21 is provided with substantially long ends 22 that are designed to fit under the inwardly curved ends 23 of the spring latches 24 that are secured to the inner surface of the closure 6, by rivets 25.

The rod 19 at the rear of the box is formed with a forwardly extended curved portion 27 providing a finger piece for effecting movement of the rack by pressing the offset portion, which results in the spring arm 24 releasing the Thermos bottle rack to permit the Thermos bottle to be removed from the closure or cover of the lunch box. An air vent 28 is formed in one end wall of the base or body portion 5, which air vent is covered with a fine mesh wire material for admitting a certain amount of air to the base, but exclude foreign matter therefrom.

A handle 29 is provided on the cover or closure 6, whereby the lunch box may be carried.

From the foregoing it will be seen that when the cover or closure has been moved to its closing position, the upper edge of the base or body portion of the lunch box will contact the gasket or sealing ring 18 in such a way as to provide a tight seal between the base or body portion and closure 6.

It will also be seen that with applicants structure, namely the Thermos bottle rack, a Thermos bottle may be readily supported within the cover to the end that the Thermos bottle may be carried within the lunch box reducing the possibilities of breaking the Thermos bottle by carrying it separately from the lunch box, and at the same time providing means which will not consume any portion of the base or body portion area in order to contain the Thermos bottle.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed A lunch box comprising a body portion including front, rear and side walls and a bottom, portions of said front, rear and side walls adjacent the marginal edges thereof being offset laterally and inwardly to provide a horizontal flange, and an upwardly extending vertical flange, said vertical flange having a reverted top portion, a closure hingedly connected to said body portion adflange and being reverted upwardly, extending inwardly of said cover and having its upper extremity curved in the arc of a semi-circle to forni a sealing ring retaining 5 groove, a sealing ring secured within said groove with portions of said ring extending internally of said box from said semi-circular groove, adapted to engage'the upper reverted edge of said vertical flange of said-body portion above said horizontal flange, providing a seal between said body portion and cover, and fasteners for holding said closure in closed position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS I Brown Aug. 20, Fairbanks Mar. 1, Korwan Dec. 27, Danm Jan. 18, McAvoy -I. July 2, 7 Long June 6, Vischer Nov. 2, Mautner Sept. 6,

FOREIGN PATENTS France 1 July 25, 

